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Massachusetts public college presidents pledge to give students relief from fee increases under budget scenario unveiled on Beacon Hill

Robert Caret in Hadley 2012.jpg

University of Massachusetts President Robert L. Caret, center, talks with Amherst campus chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, left, and State Sen. Stanley C. Rosenberg during a visit last fall to Hadley.
(The Republican file)

Tuition and fees at the University of Massachusetts and other campuses of higher education are set to be frozen for the coming school year under a budget unveiled Wednesday on Beacon Hill.

In separate telephone interviews, leaders of the five-campus UMass system, Westfield State University, Holyoke Community College and Springfield Technical Community College all said they will not increase student fees for the academic year that starts in September if legislators give final approval to the overall $33.8 billion fiscal 2014 budget released Wednesday by the House Ways and Means Committee.

"None of the curriculum fees will be raised," said Robert Caret, president of the University of Massachusetts.

"I'm excited," Caret added. "It provides the kind of support that is needed. It's a reflection of the trust they (legislators) have in us to do what we're doing and to do it well."

The effort to freeze student fees, started in January by Gov. Deval L. Patrick, comes amid a steady drumbeat of bad news about increasing student debt and rising costs of a college education.

In recent years, trustees of most campuses have been hiking fees to fill gaps in their state budgets.

The House Ways and Means budget also includes money to cover raises for faculty, clerical staff and other union employees.

If the university receives another $39 million next year, as legislators have said, it would mean the state is providing 50 percent funding for the university's education programs. Caret has made "50-50 funding" a key goal of the university.

The Ways and Means committee's budget includes $478.7 million for the University of Massachusetts system, up about $39 million from $439.5 million this year.

Evan S. Dobelle, president of Westfield State University, said the budget contains $15 million increase for the nine four-year state university and college campuses.

"With that kind of funding, we have an obligation to freeze fees," Dobelle said. "It's the right thing to do."

Dobelle, president of the Council of Presidents for the nine campuses, said all the campuses plan to keep fees at the current level.

Westfield State University received $22.2 million, up from $21.5 million in projected spending for this year.

Ira H. Rubenzahl, president of Springfield Technical Community College, said the college's budget would rise to $23.356 million, up from $21.5 million in projected spending.

Rubenzahl said the college also will keep student charges the same level as this year.